Basic Divinity Candy Food

DIVINITY CANDY

Steps:

• Line a large baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. Set aside.
• In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form. Replace the whisk attachment for the paddle attachment and set aside.
• In a medium, heavy bottom saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup and water over medium heat. Stir frequently until the mixture comes to a boil. Place a candy thermometer onto the side of the pot and allow to boil without stirring until the mixture reaches 260°F (hard ball stage). This will take 10-15 minutes. The mixture will still be light in color.
• Remove the mixture from the heat and turn the mixer back onto high speed. Slowly pour in the hot candy mixture in a steady stream until all is added. Add in the vanilla. Allow this to mix on high for 6-8 minutes, until the mixture is thick and just loses its glossiness and holds its shape. If the mixture doesn't hold its shape when you pull the paddle attachment out, continue mixing until it does. You can also test this by scooping out a spoonful of the candy and placing it on the parchment paper. If it holds into a ball, it's ready.
• Using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, hand-stir the chopped pecans into the mixture.
• Drop by heaping tablespoonful onto the lined baking sheet. You can spray your spoon or scoop with nonstick spray to help the mixture come off the spoon easier. Alternatively, you can line an 8×8 pan with parchment, coat it with nonstick spray and spread into the pan using an offset spatula.
• Allow the candy to set up completely before cutting and/or serving.

OLD-FASHIONED DIVINITY CANDY

Steps:

• In a heavy, 2 quart saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, hot water, and salt. Cook and stir until the sugar dissolves and the mixture comes to a boil. Then cook to hard ball stage without stirring, 250 degrees F (120 degrees C.) Frequently wipe crystals forming on the sides of the pan, using a pastry brush dipped in water. Remove from heat.
• Just as the syrup is reaching temperature, begin whipping egg whites: In a large glass or stainless steel mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Pour hot syrup in a thin stream over beaten egg whites, beating constantly with the electric mixer at medium speed. Increase speed to high, and continue beating for about 5 minutes. Add vanilla; continue beating until the mixture becomes stiff and begins to lose its gloss. If it is too stiff, add a few drops hot water.
• Immediately drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper. For a decorative flair, twirl the top with the spoon when dropping. Let stand until set. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

BASIC DIVINITY CANDY

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, bring sugar, salt, corn syrup, and water to a boil, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved.
• Set candy thermometer in place and continue cooking over medium-low heat, but DO NOT STIR (or else the candy can have a granular texture), until the temperature reaches 266 F.
• Meanwhile, when the temperature reaches 260 F, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer at high speed, until stiff peaks form. When the syrup reaches 266 F, pour the hot syrup slowly into the egg whites while beating constantly with the electric mixer.
• Beat for about 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture is no longer glossy. Add vanilla and turn to low speed.
• Continue beating until the mixture holds its shape when dropped from a spoon. It will probably be too thick for the mixer at this point.
• Stir in pecans or chopped candied cherries with a wooden spoon.
• Using two lightly buttered teaspoons, drop portions onto waxed paper using one spoon to push the candy off the other spoon in a twirling motion. They should look like mounded bits of fluff. Work as quickly as possible. If the mixture gets too thick to work with, add a few drops of water.
• Let stand until dry and enjoy! Store in tightly covered containers at room temperature for up to two weeks.

SUPER EASY DIVINITY CANDY

Steps:

• 1. Bring sugar, water, and salt to a rolling boil. Boil for only 2 minutes.
• 2. Place marshmallow cream in a larger bowl.
• 3. our hot mixture over cream and beat until mixture becomes dull. Be patient, it does take a while.
• 4. Add pecans.
• 5. Drop tablespoon fulls onto wax paper. Let cool fully and refrigerate. Or you also can pour the whole bowl out onto a cookie sheet covered with wax paper and break it apart once it is set up. Let cool. Refrigerate.

POTATO CANDY

Steps:

• Mix together potatoes, butter or margarine, and milk. Add enough confectioners' sugar to make a stiff dough.
• Roll out on a flat surface sprinkled with powdered sugar. Spread on a layer of peanut butter and roll up. Chill and slice.

EASY DIVINITY

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Line 2 large cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper.
• Place dry frosting mix, corn syrup, vanilla and boiling water in bowl of electric stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Mix on low speed until blended. Beat on high speed 5 to 7 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally, until stiff peaks form. On low speed, gradually beat in powdered sugar, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in nuts. Drop mixture by teaspoonfuls onto lined cookie sheets.
• Bake 5 minutes; remove from oven. Slide parchment paper with candies from cookie sheet onto cooling rack. Let stand about 4 hours on parchment paper or until tops of candies feel firm. Remove candies from parchment paper, using small icing spatula to loosen edges if needed. Turn candies over, and place bottom sides up on cooling racks. Allow candies to dry at least 12 hours. Store in airtight container with waxed paper between layers.

BASIC DIVINITY

Steps:

• NOTE: TO PREWARM A CANDY THERMOMETER, SIMPLE PLACE IT AN A SMALL SAUCE PAN OF COLD WATER AND BRING IT TO A BOIL.
• LET IT SIMMER UNTIL YOU NEED THE THERMOMETER.
• Prewarm the thermometer; separate the eggs allowing the whites to come to room temperature in a large bowl of an electric mixer. (Return the egg yolks to the refrigerator covering with plastic wrap or water for another recipe.) Fill a glass with ice cubes and water.
• To make dropped divinities, you will need 2 cookie sheets, topped with greased wax paper.
• For squares, use a greased and wax paper-lined 8 X 8-inch pan.
• Measure the sugar, corn syrup, ice water and salt and dump into a heavy 2-quart saucepan with a tight fitting lid.
• Dissolve the sugar, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon over low heat.
• Syrup will become clear, gritty sounds will cease, and the spoon will glide smoothly over the bottom of the pan.
• Increase the heat to medium and bring to a boil.
• OPTIONAL: Cover pan with a square of wax paper and lid, pushing down firmly.
• Steam for 2 to 3 minutes to dissolve the sugar crystals. (Listen to make sure the pot doesn't boil over.To double-check, remove lid, leaving the wax paper in place.)
• Wash down any crystals clinging to the sides with a brush dipped in hot water from the thermometer bath.
• Introduce the prewarmed thermometer.
• No need to stir.
• Beat the egg whites until stiff but not dry.
• If your mixer is a heavy duty one, you can wait until the bubbles in the syrup become very large and airy before beating the egg whites.
• Otherwise, do it now when the thermometer registers 240 Degrees F. (115.5 C.).
• Test the syrup when the thermometer registers 246 degrees F. (119 C.).
• Continue testing until it reach the firm-ball stage, 246 to 260 degrees F. (119 to 126.5 C.).
• Syrup will be hard to scrape up in ice water.
• It will have to be forced into a ball, but once formed, it should hold its shape but give under pressure.
• Return the thermometer to the hot water bath to soak clean.
• Dribble the syrup into the egg whites in a slow, steady stream, beating at slow speed.
• Tilt the syrup pan to get the last drop but do not scrape the pan.
• Once the syrup is completely incorporated, change to a flat whip if you have one.
• Have patience and continue beating.
• The amount of time you spend mixing depends on the power of your mixer.
• If you have a heavy duty or commercial one, you can go to full speed and make the divinity in less than 5 minutes.
• With less powerful ones, it can take up to 20 minutes.
• The important thing is to beat at the highest speed of your mixer.
• Also if it is a hot and humid day, it will take longer also.
• Test the divinity.
• The first and most important test occurs when you lift the beaters.
• If the candy falls back in ribbons that immediately merge back into the batter, it isn't done.
• Eventually, a stationary column will form between the beaters and the bowl.
• Candy will lose its sheen/gloss and stop being sticky; a teaspoonful dropped onto wax paper will hold its shape, even a peak.
• If you machine is laboring and the candy is not quite there yet, you have two choices: Pour anyway and put into a frost free freezer to set up....or finish by hand.
• Fold in the flavorings and nuts and/or other optional items using the mixer or if very thick, a wooden spoon.
• Drop or spread the divinity either on wax paper-covered cookie sheets or the buttered pan.
• Dripping it by teaspoon is harder work for you but it ripens quicker and is ready to eat sooner.
• A neat trick is to put the candy into a pastry bag and pipe onto the wax paper.
• If you spread it in the pan, you will have to wait up to 24 hours before it is ready.
• But you maybe one of those that think it is better when it is 24 hours old.
• Score and cut into squares.
• Store in an airtight container at room temperature or in a refrigerator.
• Recipe CANNOT be doubled; it can be frozen but not for extended periods of time.